Chapter 1

"Get in."

James's voice was cold.

I stood outside the hospital room, clutching my lower abdomen tightly—there, a tiny life I hadn't had the chance to tell James about.

He stood at the end of the hallway, looking at me with nothing but disgust in his eyes.

"James, I'm not feeling well today..." My voice trembled with fear. "Can we do this another day?"

"Mandy can't wait." He cut me off, his tone dripping with mockery. "It's just a bone marrow test. Who are you putting on this show for? Elizabeth, when you forced Mandy out and stole her spot as my wife, you seemed pretty capable, didn't you?"

My heart clenched painfully. Three years of marriage, and in this man's eyes, I'd always been nothing but a shameless homewrecker.

"I didn't force her out. Back then, it was because..."

"Enough!" James strode over and grabbed my wrist, his grip frighteningly tight. "I don't want to hear your excuses. Mandy's condition is getting worse, and you're the only rare blood type match. This is what you owe her."

"I don't owe her anything!" I jerked my head up. "James, what if I told you I'm pregnant? That I can't have any puncture procedures right now?"

James's gaze dropped to my flat stomach, and he let out a cold laugh.

"Pregnant? Elizabeth, you'd lie about something like that just to get out of helping Mandy?"

He stepped closer. "You just had your period last month. Don't think I don't know what game you're playing. Are you trying to trap me with a baby? Or are you stalling for time, hoping Mandy kicks the bucket?"

"I'm not..." Despair rose in my throat as I shook my head frantically.

Just then, a nurse rushed out in a panic. "Mr. Anderson, Miss Jones has passed out again. We need to do the test immediately, or else..."

James's face turned ashen. That was anxiety, panic, a depth of emotion I'd never seen on his face before.

He didn't spare me another glance, waving his hand. "Take her in. Whether she's willing or not, the test must be done today."

"Yes, sir."

Two bodyguards stepped forward and forcibly grabbed me.

"Let go of me! James! You can't do this! I'm really pregnant! It's your baby!"

I struggled desperately, my nails digging into the bodyguards' arms, but I couldn't budge them an inch.

James stood with his back to me, gazing through the glass window at the woman on the hospital bed, completely deaf to my screams.

I was dragged into the blood collection room. The door slammed shut, cutting off the view of James's back.

"Mrs. Anderson, please cooperate." The doctor held up a puncture needle. "Mr. Anderson has instructed us—if you don't cooperate, we'll use a sedative."

I huddled in the corner, hands protecting my belly, trembling all over. Looking at that needle, I was terrified beyond words.

"No... please, I won't do the bone marrow puncture. Can't you just draw blood? I have signs of threatened miscarriage. I can't handle any stress..."

For the sake of my child, I abandoned all dignity.

The door opened, and James's assistant walked in to relay orders. "Mr. Anderson says the full examination must be done. Miss Jones's health can't afford any mistakes. As for Mrs. Anderson's claim about being pregnant—Mr. Anderson says it's her delusions acting up again. Ignore it."

Delusions.

So in his mind, I wasn't just a vicious woman, but also a crazy liar.

"Hold her down."

Nurses swarmed over me, pinning down my arms and legs. I was strapped to the operating table, unable to move.

"James—!"

I let out one final, desperate cry.